Big Blue Bus (BBB), which operates its entire 200-vehicle fleet on alternative fuels, says it will receive $870,000 from the Mobile Source Air Pollution Reduction Review Committee’s (MSRC) Near-Zero Engine Incentive Program to upgrade the agency’s compressed natural gas (CNG) engines, which will further reduce emissions and extend the life span of its vehicles.

November 29, 2016 -- The all-but final tally in Santa Monica's November 8 election caused no major changes, shoring up victories by four incumbent City Council members and keeping the loser of the hottest measure on the ballot firmly in place.

December 2, 2016 -- President-elect Donald Trump’s promise to crack down on illegal immigration will have no effect on Santa Monica’s long-held policy not to enforce immigration laws, Police Chief Jacqueline Seabrooks wrote in a statement that appears on the City’s website.

December 9, 2016 -- While the City Council searches for the first new head of Santa Monica’s legal department in more than 20 years, longtime Assistant City Attorney Joseph Lawrence will fill that role on an interim basis beginning December 31.

Mayor Tony Vazquez announced Tuesday evening that the decision had been made during the closed session portion of the council meeting. He offered a congratulations to Lawrence, who responded with a joke.

The FAA issued an interim cease-and-desist order on December 12 to the city of Santa Monica, California, requiring the city to stop its process of attempting to evict the two Santa Monica Airport (SMO) FBOs—American Flyers and Atlantic Aviation. The city issued notices to vacate to the two FBOs on September 15, giving them 30 days to leave the airport. The city also revealed plans to take over FBO services at the airport, and earlier this year the city council voted to require airport leases to include language limiting the sale of fuel for piston-powered aircraft to unleaded fuel only and jet fuel to be limited to biofuel or “other sustainable fuels” at some future date.

Santa Monica mayor Tony Vazquez is vowing to continue the city's efforts to supplant the privately run fixed-based operations at Santa Monica Airport (SMO) with city-run services. Vazquez made that pledge in response to the interim cease-and-desist order the FAA presented to Santa Monica officials last week. The order calls on the city to halt its effort to evict the two FBOs at the airport—American Flyers and Atlantic Aviation. The city issued eviction notices to the FBOs in September.

September 13, 2016 -- Santa Monica Forward, one of two groups spearheading opposition to a slow-growth initiative on the November ballot, announced Monday that it is endorsing the four City Council incumbents running for re-election.